Friday, September 28, 2012

Image from noleggiomototoscana.it

Motorcycle aficionados are known for a love of the road,
and for sometimes growing impatient when stuck in the same place for extended
periods of time. Fortunately, ‘bikers’ growing antsy inside their Tuscany
villascan easily unwind by
taking to one of the province’s many motorcycle-friendly routes and exploring
the region from the seat of their trusty ‘road hogs’.

Much as with cycling, Tuscan roads are perfectly tailored
for motorcycle tours, so much so that this year’s ‘Italian Legendary Tour’
contest will once again pass through the region in its global tour of Italy.
The number of attractive routes available to those wishing to venture a little
further from Tuscany villasand tourist spots is considerable, and all in
all certain to please any motorsport buffs who choose to take a Tuscan holiday.

Regional highlights that can be visited by motorcycle
include the Val d’Orcia (part of the legendary Mille Miglia race); the Tuscan
coastal route from Forte dei Marmi
to Porto Santo Stefano, which includes
everything from natural parks to beachfront streets lined with nightclubs; the
route crossing the Apuan Alps; the one winding through Elba Island; and the
route focused around Siena and its outskirts. Any of these routes provides
plenty of sights and enough variety to please even the most demanding
motorcycle driver, and each is short enough to be made into a day-trip –
meaning that, over the course of your holiday, and depending on how long you
stay for, you may be able to explore them all!

Motorcycle tourism is just
another in a series of alternatives presented by the province for tourists who
want to stay away from the well-trodden sightseeing paths. So, why not get behind the handlebars
and explore all the routes this beautiful region has to offer?

Friday, September 21, 2012

Every year, the Northern Italian region of Tuscany attracts
thousands of tourists, with varying concepts of what constitutes an
interesting, satisfying or exciting holiday. Most are content to lead a
typically touristy lifestyle, staying in Tuscany villas, seeing the sites and tasting the food and
wine. For some, however, this lazy style of holidaymaking is not entirely
satisfactory; and for those, a trek down the Via Francigena – the pilgrim’s way
leading into Rome – may make for an interesting ‘alternative’ holiday.

The Via Francigena was founded by the earliest tribes
inhabiting the province – back before anyone had ever thought of capitalising
on the charms of Tuscany
villas– but rose to prominence after the Archbishop of
Canterbury used it as a pilgrimage route into Rome. Over time, this road – also
used by regular peasants and merchants – began to be bordered by religious
edifices and other landmarks, which make it well worth a visit today.

The best pace in which to travel the Via Francigena is obviously
leisurely, so as to take in all the sights the route has to offer. The entire
route breathes a very medieval atmosphere, with visitors following mule tracks
and passing by unspoilt woods and fortified villages entirely devoid of Tuscany
villasor any other signs of
the region’s modern-day tourist trade. For that very reason, it represents a
welcome escape for those not wishing to partake in this more “conventional”
style of holidaymaking, as well as for those seeking to commune with nature and
take in a few historical and cultural sites in the process.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Image from luccasport.net

A warm climate, stunning vistas, good food and wine, and a
wealth of historic and natural places of interest make Tuscany
villas a highly sought-after
property during the spring and summer months. The colder seasons, however, are
never immediately associated with the Northern Italian province – but, as this
post will show, there is no reason why they should not be.

In fact, Tuscany is just as vibrant and active during the
wintery months as during spring and summer, only in a different way. Whereas
during the warmer months the focus is on wine trails, walking tours, and quaint
Tuscany villas, in the winter the action shifts to the nearby
mountains, where a wealth of winter sports and activities is on offer.

Fans of winter sports who wish to travel to less crowded
and ‘trendy’ slopes would do well to look into this Northern Italian province,
as its vast array of mountains presents copious opportunities for skiing,
snowboarding and bobsledding. The Abetone area, in particular, presents over 50
kilometres of welcoming slopes dotted with ski resorts, and boasting a 15 kilometre
cross-country skiing track.

Outside of this region, Monte Amiata’s four skiing resorts
- Lunigiana’s Zum Zeri, and Careggine, Passo delle Radici and Casone di
Profecchia (in the Garfagnana mountains) - are probably the best spots for
winter sports, the many resorts presenting something for everyone, from
children and rookie skiers to more seasoned professionals!

In short, then, wintertime visitors to Tuscany should certainly
not be discouraged. The scenery may not be quite as green, and some of the Tuscany
villasmay be unavailable for
rental, but this Northern Italian region - beautiful at any time of the year,
regardless of atmospheric conditions -still offers plenty of places in which to engage in some winter sports
fun!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Do you want your visit to beautiful Tuscany to be remarkable and romantic? If so, you should consider renting one of the excellent Tuscany villas available from To-Tuscany.com. To-Tuscany has offered extravagant and comfortable villas for our customers since 1998, and we have over 400 different holiday villas in both Tuscany and Umbria to choose from. Ranging from apartments, houses, town homes, castles and farmhouses, you should have no problem finding just the right romantic spot for your trip.

Each Tuscany villa rental offers different features, with many including pools, spas, exotic gardens, and incredible views. Finding your perfect Villa in Tuscany starts with an easy and relaxed selection process, where you'll get to browse through the wide choices and pick what property you'd like to spend time in for a romantic getaway or honeymoon. The booking calendar online is always up to date, and picking your selection is hassle free. Select the amount of people you're visiting with, how long you're staying for, and what part of the city you'd like to stay in. Each villa available is visited frequently by the To-Tuscany team to make sure the locations and homes are in top notch condition, giving you a stay that you will treasure forever.

Best of all, you can get help from many different personal team members at To-Tuscany.com who are willing to help you pick out your perfect stay and will let you know how to book easily. With the secure booking process and affordable rates, you'll find that this service gives you everything you desire. The wide selection of villas comes at many different price ranges so you can book a villa without breaking your vacation budget.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Image from in-travel.it

When it comes to family holidays, Tuscany is a prime
location. With its wealth of history and culture, calm country towns, beautiful
scenery, temperate climate, and quaint Tuscany villas, this Northern Italian region is a great place
to take the children during school holidays. And parents planning a trip to
more Mediterranean pastures will be glad to know that the province also offers
numerous opportunities to engage in fun-filled family activities.

More culture-conscious parents, for instance, may want to
show their offspring that Northern Italy is not all about posh Tuscany villasby visiting a medieval town. A famous fixture of
the region, these towns not only look charming, with their ancient walls, tall
towers and underground streets, but also provide an insight into how the local
people lived in a time before Tuscany villasand the tourist trade.

From there, another natural stop is the leaning tower of
Pisa, one of the most famous monuments of not only Tuscany, but Italy as a
whole, and arguably even the world. Everyone has seen a snapshot of the
precariously teetering edifice, so why not take your family on an actual tour
of it? To complete your day trip, you can visit Pisa’s many other attractions,
including the Square of Miracles, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Finally, for a more active and exciting day out, you can
opt to take your family on a balloon ride. Looking down on the region’s
beautiful countryside and sprawling vineyards, and seeing the myriad Tuscany
villasreduced to mere specks
below their feet will no doubt enthral children and grown-ups alike, making for
an unforgettable experience.